Day 1 – we start with a local departure and make our way North to Loch Lomond and the Lochside 3* Loch Long Hotel.
Day 2 – great Highland drive through mountainous Glencoe. Free time in Fort William before heading north along 23 miles of Loch Ness. The Loch contains more fresh water than all lakes in England and Wales combined! Free time in Inverness – the capital of the Highlands. Depart mid-afternoon along the coastline, passing Dornoch, Dunrobin Castle and the silver sands at Brora and Wick. Overnight at Thurso. Typical of the hotels we use is the Castletown.
Day 3 – today we take you to Castle of Mey – the Queen Mother’s homely castle with beautiful gardens. We board the afternoon ferry with our coach from Scrabster and cross the Pentland Firth, arriving in Stromness approximately 90 minutes later. The day concludes with a tour along the shoreline of Scapa Flow – famous as a naval refuge during both world wars. 2 nights in the capital – Kirkwall, with its 12th century St Magnus Cathedral.
Day 4 – a local guide will meet us today for a memorable day out. As the day unfolds the islands Neolithic ancestry is evident as many ancient monuments, stone circles, settlements and tombs are visited. The tour includes a scenic circular tour of the island visiting most of the main sites including the 5,000 year old Scara Brae, Churchill Barriers, Ring of Brodgar, Stenness, ‘Standing Stones’ and Italian Chapel. Along the way we listen to tales of Viking intruders, wartime exploits and immerse yourself in the Orkney’s rich maritime heritage.
Day 5 / 6 – catch the morning ferry back to the mainland, heading south past Inverness with time free in Aviemore. Continue into Perthshire for our final night’s stay before continuing our journey home on day 6.